It’s a little hard to be excited after a 3-0 loss to Utah. Especially the when the loss follows on the heels of a 7-2 win in Utah the night before. Maybe the quick return trip to Boise, it can’t be easy to get good sleep on a bus. Maybe it's hard to amp up for a loner home game. Or maybe we are just sick and tired of playing Utah already. Including the pre-season games the two teams have already played 7 times and still have 9 more games against each other this season.
Back to the game. There were a few things to be excited about. Cody Lampl, the first Idaho boy to wear a Steelheads sweater made his home debut tonight. We saw two fights; Tousignant tried to generate a little momentum in the second period and dropped gloves with Utah’s Kotsopolous. Tousignant landed a few good punches, but I think Kotsopolous got the ‘w’ on that fight. You can’t win them all and you have to have some admiration for the scrappy 19 year old forward.
The second fight was a bit more exciting and took place as the game was winding down and patience was wearing thin. I’m not sure what led up to the fight, all I know is Ashton Rome and Utah’s Sixsmith were ready to go. The highlight of the fight, and the reason I’ll be watching the highlight video tomorrow, was the moment when Rome grabbed Sixsmith by the shoulders and slammed the guy down to the ice. And even after that another Utah player taunted Rome trying to egg him into another fight. The linesmen weren’t having any of that and sent Rome to the showers a bit early. The penalty calls that came out of the fight were a little uneven, Rome was called for elbowing (probably what started the scrum, but I missed it), fighting, instigating and a game misconduct. I have to disagree with the instigating call. Rome may have elbowed Sixsmith, but Sixsmith was definitely the instigator of the fight by pursuing Rome across the ice until Rome dropped his gloves. I’m sure Sixsmith was questioning his judgment in that a moment later when he found himself on his knees. Rome drew the game misconduct which means he may be wearing a suit next week in Stockton. It will be interesting to see what comes down from league.
I know I’ve mentioned how great our goalies are a few times, and I know you guys are going wonder about me if I mention it again after such a loss. But there was one moment early in the game where Bachman just blew me away. He blocked a shot that slid on the ice through the legs of one of our defensemen, and then almost immediately blocked a rebound from the other side, then the 2nd rebound deflected up off a stick and Bachs was suddenly on his feet, glove hand out to catch it. And when he thought he missed it he immediately dropped to the ice and blocked where he thought the puck had dropped. And the whole thing took place in less than 20 seconds. I don’t know how any goalie can keep track of the puck, especially with all the guys standing in front of him. I’m truly impressed, not that any of you could tell though.
Read the recap of the game and check for highlights here.
~Leah
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Holy Moly! That hockey player is wearing spandex!
8 games, 27 goals, 52 assists, 5 fights, 115 penalty minutes, 198 saves, 2 goaltender of the week awards and the second best record in the ECHL. Not a bad way to start the season. The Steelheads have jumped out ahead early and are showing they are a force to be reckoned with this season. The team’s winning percentage is .938, the next team in the conference is Alaska with .611 then followed by Utah at .600.
The fights: Adam Huxley is not afraid to drop his gloves. Thank heavens! We needed a good enforcer and it is nice to know that he is on the ice to stir up some energy if needed. Huxley is comfortable in his role as an enforcer and works hard to make sure he’s good at it. Listen to his interview with Pete and Joe of J105 The couple fights I’ve seen (in person or on video) seem to show opponents wanting to either hug it out or spend a lot of time dancing rather than actually throwing some punches, but when Huxley throws a punch, he lands some solid ones. Since Huxley has been around the league for a bit, maybe some of these guys are nervous about what they are getting into when they choose to engage.
The goals: 27 of them, that’s a little more than 3 per game. Thirteen different players have scored goals so far with Mark Derlago and Evan Barlow leading the team with 6 goals and 5 goals respectively. Tyler Spurgeon is sitting at the top in points with 11 assists and 2 goals so far. If you look at the opposing teams goalie stats, our players have 295 shots on goal. In 8 games our opponents have only taken 215 shots on goal, with 17 goals (I’m not counting the goals from the shoot-out in Alaska). The Steelheads are out shooting their opponents by 30%. Some of that is definitely the offensive power we have up front, but some credit is due the hardworking blue liners who are doing an excellent job of keeping our goalies protected. Congrats to both Beauchemin and Bachman for their ECHL Goaltender of the Week awards!
I’m sure a lot of you understand the reference in my title. I just have to take a moment to put in my two cents. News reports mention that the players had removed enough equipment that they were in their jock shorts. This is a typical pair of jock shorts: Typical jock shorts, there are also jock shorts that look more like swim trunks: Swim trunk like jocks shorts. Now, Boise is city with a lot of people who ride their bicycles and it’s not uncommon to be out and about town and run into a guy wearing these: Cycling shorts. Also, did anyone watch the Olympics last summer? Actual swim trunks. So, I have to ask…is it ok for men to wear spandex shorts in public as long as there is no ice involved?
By the way, did anyone see the jerseys the Alaska Aces wore on the Halloween game? Maybe our Idaho Junior team can give some pointers to the Aces players on taking those awful things off!
The fights: Adam Huxley is not afraid to drop his gloves. Thank heavens! We needed a good enforcer and it is nice to know that he is on the ice to stir up some energy if needed. Huxley is comfortable in his role as an enforcer and works hard to make sure he’s good at it. Listen to his interview with Pete and Joe of J105 The couple fights I’ve seen (in person or on video) seem to show opponents wanting to either hug it out or spend a lot of time dancing rather than actually throwing some punches, but when Huxley throws a punch, he lands some solid ones. Since Huxley has been around the league for a bit, maybe some of these guys are nervous about what they are getting into when they choose to engage.
The goals: 27 of them, that’s a little more than 3 per game. Thirteen different players have scored goals so far with Mark Derlago and Evan Barlow leading the team with 6 goals and 5 goals respectively. Tyler Spurgeon is sitting at the top in points with 11 assists and 2 goals so far. If you look at the opposing teams goalie stats, our players have 295 shots on goal. In 8 games our opponents have only taken 215 shots on goal, with 17 goals (I’m not counting the goals from the shoot-out in Alaska). The Steelheads are out shooting their opponents by 30%. Some of that is definitely the offensive power we have up front, but some credit is due the hardworking blue liners who are doing an excellent job of keeping our goalies protected. Congrats to both Beauchemin and Bachman for their ECHL Goaltender of the Week awards!
I’m sure a lot of you understand the reference in my title. I just have to take a moment to put in my two cents. News reports mention that the players had removed enough equipment that they were in their jock shorts. This is a typical pair of jock shorts: Typical jock shorts, there are also jock shorts that look more like swim trunks: Swim trunk like jocks shorts. Now, Boise is city with a lot of people who ride their bicycles and it’s not uncommon to be out and about town and run into a guy wearing these: Cycling shorts. Also, did anyone watch the Olympics last summer? Actual swim trunks. So, I have to ask…is it ok for men to wear spandex shorts in public as long as there is no ice involved?
By the way, did anyone see the jerseys the Alaska Aces wore on the Halloween game? Maybe our Idaho Junior team can give some pointers to the Aces players on taking those awful things off!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Opening Weekend
Opening weekend: the single most important and most looked forward to time for any sports fan. This isn’t preseason. This isn’t an early look. This is the players that have made the cut; the players that will hopefully be here the rest of the year. The new look of any organization. The season is here. Opening weekend has now come and gone but the feeling still remains the same: the season has started and here we go to a 72+ game year.This year’s opening weekend was 3 games in 3 nights home stand against the Stockton Thunder. Could an opening weekend have started off any better? Along with the season starting new it was great to see some familiar faces returning to Qwest Arena. Most of the ushers, ice crew, fans and coaching staff are the same; they are now family. Most of the Steelheads are new, young faces with 7 rookies that are straight out of college (no professional games played prior). There are also faces missing that have been staples out on the ice: Darrell Hay and Kory Scoran have left for Europe, Travis Wight is playing this year in the Central Hockey League, Scott Burt and Lance Galbraith are in their second season playing for the biggest rival of them all…the Alaska Aces. As a fan walking into the building knowing that there would be no number 44 (Hayzee’s number), 12 (Burtie), 71 (Galby) and that number 5 (Scorzy) and 15 (Wighty) would most likely belong to a new rookie was a hard realization at first. Once on the ice though, WOW can those rookies move! They are fast, hard hitting and aggressive. New fan favorites are beginning to emerge and can be seen quickly.
Stockton walked into Qwest arena not knowing what to expect from this “new” Steelheads team. Most of the players from Stockton were returning to Qwest Arena playing in the same sweater that they had last year and there were major questions I am sure of what to expect from this very young Steelheads team. Not only that but one of their own, Adam Huxley, had signed to be a part of this “new” Steelheads team. And Hux did not hold back on his former teammates. He came out hitting hard and willing to light a fire when needed to gain some motivation from the bench. By Saturday night we knew he was going to drop the mitts with someone and was not surprised when he dropped them shortly after face off with Garrett Hunt. Watch the clip: http://www.idahosteelheads.com/fan-zone/multimedia.aspx?mediaid=427
Goaltending was solid both nights. With Rejean Beauchemin (Reggie) back in net the first couple nights fans got to see him basically stand on his head to try and stop as many pucks as he could. Reggie did an amazing job in between the pipes at stopping just 46 shots in two nights by the Thunder. And rookie goaltender Richard Bachman stopped 26 out of the 28 shots he faced on Sunday. In all three games the Steelheads only faced a total of 74 shots from the Thunder and the Thunder only scored 5 goals. Now from the Steelheads side of things they manhandled Stockton’s goaltenders (Andrew Perugini and Bryan Pitton) by firing 128 shots and scoring 9 times. What does this tell you about where the Steelheads are heading this season?
Opening weekend was ever hockey fan looks for: 3 good games, 2 fights and 1 amazing season to come. Now the Steelheads hit the road to play Utah (yeah you know me feelings about Utah) and then off to Alaska before coming home for a one game stand. Somewhat a slow start to the home stand series but it’s just that a start. Opening weekend has come and gone…now we get to the heart of the season!
Monica :)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Hockey is Knocking...
We have finally hit the week that every hockey fan looks forward to…the first three game home stand. And with the way the Steelheads schedule works this year, the boys will be going for a three in three nights. Is there any better way to start of the season?
I usually compare the start of hockey season to the first day of school for kids. The anticipation that builds up all summer as to “Which of my friends will be in my class,” “Who will I have lunch with,” and “What kind of school year will it be?”
This is preseason hockey. It’s the first glimpse into what possibilities there may be for the coming season. It’s the first glimpse to see what kind of team Coach is trying to build. You see the look of excitement in the rookies’ eyes of being the “new” kid and wanting to fit into a line. Preseason hockey though is nothing compared to opening night.
Opening is a little more than 48 hours away and at this point most hockey fans are like a child on Christmas morning sitting there looking at all the presents under the tree but unable to touch them. And then you enter Qwest arena and within the first two steps into the door you feel whole again.
The smell of the ice. There is nothing better than the smell of fresh laid, freshly cut perfect ice. The comparison is to a baseball, football or golfer that just can’t wait for the first smell of the turf/grass. I can’t say that it is like any particular food memory that I have from growing up or any warm fuzzy feeling that something gives me but oh the smell.
So here we go hockey fans…preseason hockey is complete. Now it’s time to prepare for the “BIG SHOW.” 51 hours and counting until the first puck drop of the year!
Monica :)
I usually compare the start of hockey season to the first day of school for kids. The anticipation that builds up all summer as to “Which of my friends will be in my class,” “Who will I have lunch with,” and “What kind of school year will it be?”
This is preseason hockey. It’s the first glimpse into what possibilities there may be for the coming season. It’s the first glimpse to see what kind of team Coach is trying to build. You see the look of excitement in the rookies’ eyes of being the “new” kid and wanting to fit into a line. Preseason hockey though is nothing compared to opening night.
Opening is a little more than 48 hours away and at this point most hockey fans are like a child on Christmas morning sitting there looking at all the presents under the tree but unable to touch them. And then you enter Qwest arena and within the first two steps into the door you feel whole again.
The smell of the ice. There is nothing better than the smell of fresh laid, freshly cut perfect ice. The comparison is to a baseball, football or golfer that just can’t wait for the first smell of the turf/grass. I can’t say that it is like any particular food memory that I have from growing up or any warm fuzzy feeling that something gives me but oh the smell.
So here we go hockey fans…preseason hockey is complete. Now it’s time to prepare for the “BIG SHOW.” 51 hours and counting until the first puck drop of the year!
Monica :)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Can you smell the ice? Hockey season is coming...
We are gearing up for hockey season and I can’t wait. All of my hockey fan friends are talking about the start of training camp and that just makes the excitement that much more. Training camp is in 11 days. WOW, 11 days! And opening night for the Steelheads happens in 24 days. It feels great to say that.
If you are a big fan you may be checking the Steelheads website for updates on players, who is coming back, who’s new, etc. You may also be checking to see if Will or Doug have updated their blog lately. You know that’s where the inside information really is. If you have been checking out the website, you’ve probably read Doug’s write-up of his interview with Jay Beagle. Beagle spent some time in Boise in 2006-2007 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. He also spent some time with the Washington Capitals during their play-off run last season and then returned to the Bears, who were on their way to capturing the Calder Cup. It was a great year for Beagle, and all of the fans here in Boise are happy to see a Steelhead go on to accomplish some great things.
What caught my eye in Doug’s interview with Beagle is the answer he gave when Doug asked him about his time in Boise. Here is Beagle’s answer:
“It seemed like an NHL town.” I think this is pretty high praise. Boise is a long way from having an NHL market, our population would have to grow considerably before we could even attempt to attract a NHL team. And if we did have a NHL team they certainly wouldn’t be playing at our beloved Qwest Arena, the only Arena where you can stand in line for drinks or food and not miss the action on the ice. But I think Beagle really captures the spirit of Boise and our love of hockey in his statement.
When I hear the term ‘NHL Town’ I automatically think of Hockeytown, USA. Not as a reference to Detroit who has trademarked the term, but hockey towns south of the Canadian border in general. I think of Saint Paul, Minn where the Wild have sold out all 367 exhibition games, regular season and playoff games since their inception in 2000. St. Paul also has an incredible youth hockey organization. I once sat at my son’s high school game with some people from St. Paul who were surprised that the ice isn’t resurfaced between periods and the high school band doesn’t play fight songs during the breaks in play.
Or I think of Buffalo, NY, where TV ratings for the 2007 Stanley Cup finals were 5 times the national average. The Buffalo Sabres weren’t even playing the finals and hadn’t had a chance at capturing Lord Stanley since 1999 when they lost to Dallas. In fact, Buffalo has never won a Stanley Cup. But it doesn’t stop the Sabres fans from watching the game and coming out to support their team. Buffalo loves their Sabres like Boise loves the BSU Broncos during football season.
Boise is nowhere near Minnesota’s sellout streak, although they have led the league in sellouts since the Idaho Steelheads joined the ECHL. And if the games were shown on TV, I don’t think they would generate significant ratings. Hockey is better live, and Steelhead tickets are pretty cheap. So why would Boise feel like an ‘NHL town’? I have to agree with Beagle when he says, “The fans there are unbelievable, I still remember the die-hard fans. They love it there!” This is what makes Boise a hockey town. Boise has great hockey fans. In 24 days come down to Qwest Arena and meet them. We’ll all be there.
~~Leah
BEAGLE: It seemed like an NHL town. The fans there are unbelievable; I still
remember the die-hard fans. They love it there! And the amazing weather… I loved
playing into the Summer after being in Alaska in college. I have nothing but
great memories [in Boise]. I felt like I was on top of the world. Memories I
have of there can’t be beat.
“It seemed like an NHL town.” I think this is pretty high praise. Boise is a long way from having an NHL market, our population would have to grow considerably before we could even attempt to attract a NHL team. And if we did have a NHL team they certainly wouldn’t be playing at our beloved Qwest Arena, the only Arena where you can stand in line for drinks or food and not miss the action on the ice. But I think Beagle really captures the spirit of Boise and our love of hockey in his statement.
When I hear the term ‘NHL Town’ I automatically think of Hockeytown, USA. Not as a reference to Detroit who has trademarked the term, but hockey towns south of the Canadian border in general. I think of Saint Paul, Minn where the Wild have sold out all 367 exhibition games, regular season and playoff games since their inception in 2000. St. Paul also has an incredible youth hockey organization. I once sat at my son’s high school game with some people from St. Paul who were surprised that the ice isn’t resurfaced between periods and the high school band doesn’t play fight songs during the breaks in play.
Or I think of Buffalo, NY, where TV ratings for the 2007 Stanley Cup finals were 5 times the national average. The Buffalo Sabres weren’t even playing the finals and hadn’t had a chance at capturing Lord Stanley since 1999 when they lost to Dallas. In fact, Buffalo has never won a Stanley Cup. But it doesn’t stop the Sabres fans from watching the game and coming out to support their team. Buffalo loves their Sabres like Boise loves the BSU Broncos during football season.
Boise is nowhere near Minnesota’s sellout streak, although they have led the league in sellouts since the Idaho Steelheads joined the ECHL. And if the games were shown on TV, I don’t think they would generate significant ratings. Hockey is better live, and Steelhead tickets are pretty cheap. So why would Boise feel like an ‘NHL town’? I have to agree with Beagle when he says, “The fans there are unbelievable, I still remember the die-hard fans. They love it there!” This is what makes Boise a hockey town. Boise has great hockey fans. In 24 days come down to Qwest Arena and meet them. We’ll all be there.
~~Leah
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
F*** Utah
Okay so let us face the reality of minor league hockey. Yeah the NHL has more money and teams can travel longer distances more frequently in a season or even preseason. However, in the ECHL (and most AA leagues) travel expenses play a huge part in the planning of the all mighty 72 game season let alone preseason. Preseason is something that most hockey fans, like myself, look forward to. It means that the regular season starts that much sooner. I have one simple complaint about preseason this year for the Idaho Steelheads…UTAH REALLY!! REALLY!!!!
Sorry this is really nothing personal against Utah. This is what happens in minor league hockey. Traveling is expensive so the cheapest way to travel is looked at. Yeah sure the bus ride from Boise to West Valley City, Utah is cheaper then flying to Anchorage, Alaska or to any of the California teams for preseason, but come on. In the regular season we face the Utah Grizzlies 14 times!!! 14 times!!! Why is there need to also have our two preseason games against Utah!!!
Utah is not out biggest rival. I would think that the games I look forward to the most because both teams in the past have been so similar are the games that are played against the Alaska Aces! I think both teams have very similar styles of play and both teams play to win. Now I am sure the competitiveness between the two has always been there but with Alaska now having two formers Steelhead veterans (Scott Burt and Lance Galbraith) makes the rivalry that much better!
Preseason is preseason yes, and I guess we all just have to deal with seeing Utah a total of 16 times! But Utah?! Really? Come on its Utah! Please…
Remember HOCKEY IS LIFE AND THE REST IS JUST FILLER!
Monica
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hockey is Life and Life is Hockey
To most people that know me they know that this sentiment it true. Since Leah has given you some insight as to what brought her to live the life of hockey I figured I would take some time and share how my passion came to be.
So having spent a chunk of my childhood in Arizona (where we all know ice has to be made) I never knew that hockey existed until we moved to Portland, Oregon. Now I know what you are thinking Portland is RIP City (Portland is basketball town). My first hockey game was when I was about 8 and man let me tell you I was that crazy kid in the stands screaming and yelling; simply wanting a fight to break out. After that one game hockey fell out of my life until about four years ago after living in Boise for 6 years. That’s when Life truly became hockey!
All I did was simply answer an ad in the campus paper asking for “fun” people to be part of a Coors Light promotions crew that would be part of each home Idaho Steelheads game. Why the heck not? I know I didn’t know anything about hockey but I remember how much fun I had at the one game I had gone to years before. Well the season went a long and I had fun at the games; meeting new people and making new friends with the “boys.” Playoffs changed everything though.
As the team made it through each round everything kept getting more and more exciting; learning more and more about the game. “What is a match penalty?” “Playoffs don’t go to shoot outs but just keep playing. Really?” Who would have thought that this first season of working for the Steelheads would end with the “boys” taking home the Kelly Cup Championship? Now getting ready for my forth season to start and still working for the same group of great people I can’t imagine life without hockey. I have meant some of my closest friends in this time and have a huge extended hockey family.
There is something about walking into the arena before doors open. Watching the “boys” walking on the freshly cut ice, the smell of that ice and walking through the tunnel with the “boys” playing their usual soccer/hacky sack game.
The last couple of seasons life hasn’t ended quite the way it did that first year, but the intensity is there. A couple weeks after this season ended I promised one of my non-hockey friends that I wouldn’t mention hockey until October. Yeah that lasted all of a day. There are times that I often can’t have a conversation were hockey isn’t mentioned.
So after sharing both of our stories’s and kinda how Leah and I came to the conclusion as to the necessity of sharing our hockey lives you may be wondering why though. Well, we both have different perception on the hockey world. Both of us are fans first yes but we want to educate those who don’t know or understand why hockey is life. So in this blog we are going to chat up about the upcoming season and then also discuss a slew of subject that concern hockey. No subject is set in stone and no skate will be unturned.
Until next time….remember HOCKEY IS LIFE AND THE REST IS JUST FILLER.
So having spent a chunk of my childhood in Arizona (where we all know ice has to be made) I never knew that hockey existed until we moved to Portland, Oregon. Now I know what you are thinking Portland is RIP City (Portland is basketball town). My first hockey game was when I was about 8 and man let me tell you I was that crazy kid in the stands screaming and yelling; simply wanting a fight to break out. After that one game hockey fell out of my life until about four years ago after living in Boise for 6 years. That’s when Life truly became hockey!
All I did was simply answer an ad in the campus paper asking for “fun” people to be part of a Coors Light promotions crew that would be part of each home Idaho Steelheads game. Why the heck not? I know I didn’t know anything about hockey but I remember how much fun I had at the one game I had gone to years before. Well the season went a long and I had fun at the games; meeting new people and making new friends with the “boys.” Playoffs changed everything though.
As the team made it through each round everything kept getting more and more exciting; learning more and more about the game. “What is a match penalty?” “Playoffs don’t go to shoot outs but just keep playing. Really?” Who would have thought that this first season of working for the Steelheads would end with the “boys” taking home the Kelly Cup Championship? Now getting ready for my forth season to start and still working for the same group of great people I can’t imagine life without hockey. I have meant some of my closest friends in this time and have a huge extended hockey family.
There is something about walking into the arena before doors open. Watching the “boys” walking on the freshly cut ice, the smell of that ice and walking through the tunnel with the “boys” playing their usual soccer/hacky sack game.
The last couple of seasons life hasn’t ended quite the way it did that first year, but the intensity is there. A couple weeks after this season ended I promised one of my non-hockey friends that I wouldn’t mention hockey until October. Yeah that lasted all of a day. There are times that I often can’t have a conversation were hockey isn’t mentioned.
So after sharing both of our stories’s and kinda how Leah and I came to the conclusion as to the necessity of sharing our hockey lives you may be wondering why though. Well, we both have different perception on the hockey world. Both of us are fans first yes but we want to educate those who don’t know or understand why hockey is life. So in this blog we are going to chat up about the upcoming season and then also discuss a slew of subject that concern hockey. No subject is set in stone and no skate will be unturned.
Until next time….remember HOCKEY IS LIFE AND THE REST IS JUST FILLER.
Monday, August 24, 2009
In the begining and why I love hockey
Ok, let’s get it out of the way. I’m a woman and I’m a hockey fan. Admitting it is half the problem, right?
A few years ago I read that women make up a larger percentage of the fan base for hockey than any of the other major U.S sports (football, basketball, baseball). I’m not sure where I read it and an online search turned up nothing but a bunch of other people writing about it. This tells me that I’m not the only person who read it and I didn’t dream it up.
Why do I mention this? I’ve found myself repeating this nugget of information many times over the years, most recently to a couple of strangers over after work beers. After seriously amazing this couple of guys with our hockey knowledge, Monica and I started tossing around the idea of this blog. Actually, during the drinking of the beer we were talking about how someone should blog about the Idaho Steelheads from a fan perspective. It wasn’t until the next morning that inspiration truly struck.
And so, here we are. Well, right now it’s just me so I might as well tell you what’s on my mind.
Those two guys in the bar that night keep popping into my mind. They weren’t that memorable in themselves. What really stuck with me was their shock that the two women knew so much about hockey.
Why is it so astounding?
I blame football.
Why football, you say?
Do I have to have a reason?
Ok, fair enough…It’s quotes like this: “Female fans do love the game, but most started watching football because a cute player caught their eye”.
I admit is a stereotype. It leads to assumptions that woman can’t possibly be “real” fans. It leads people believe women are too busy watching Peyton Manning’s tight end to know what a real tight end is.
Back to hockey. Every woman probably has their own story of why they love hockey. I’d be willing to bet that every story involves going to game. Maybe their dad took them when they were little girls. Maybe it was an ex-boyfriend or a husband. My story involves cheap tickets and my friend Charlie.
The Steelheads came to Boise just about the same time I arrived for college. Even with the close proximity of hockey, and my slightly peeked curiosity about a sport my father and brother knew nothing about, it was still a few years before I would see a game. I grew up in Nevada where our ice “rink” was a 10x20 foot hole in a seedy park that the fire dept. would fill if the ground froze (big “IF”, it’s Nevada remember). The ice usually lasted till about mid-morning at which time it became mush. In my town, baseball was the big sport until you hit 9th grade and then football was life. I had absolutely no knowledge of hockey. Gordie who? So spending my hard earned money on tickets was hard to justify.
I graduated college and landed that fabulous entry level job all recent grads dream about. I was toiling away in oblivion when out of nowhere I get an e-mail announcing employee group night tickets at low price. I jumped, what the heck, it’s something to do. But there was still a problem. I didn’t know the first thing about hockey.
That’s where Charlie comes in. Charlie grew up watching the Avs play when Roy was in goal. He’s my hockey Wikipedia. I called him, he agreed to go. A decision I’m sure he regretted later. The first 5 minutes of that game went something like this:
Me: “Why did they blow the whistle?”
Charlie: “Crosschecking”
Me: “oh, what’s that?
Charlie takes both hands and makes a shoving motion.
30 seconds later…
Me: “Why did they blow the whistle?”
Charlie: “Elbowing”
Me: “Oh. How can you see that? I don't know where to watch.”
1 minute later…
Me: “Why did that guy get to come out of the penalty box, his two minutes aren’t up?”
Charlie: “Because we scored”
Me: “So because we did something good the other team gets him back early? That doesn’t seem fair.”
20 seconds later...
Me: "Why do the players switch out so often? How do they know when to change?"
30 seconds later…
Me: “What was that whistle for?”
Charlie: “Offsides. I’m going to get a beer, this is going to be a long game”
After I shut up long enough to actually watch the game, I noticed a few things. The game is pure excitement and brute physicality, but it is also smooth and graceful. It takes a lot of coordination to guide a rubber puck with a wooden stick at 20 mph on ice while 5 guys with blades on their feet and their own wooden sticks want nothing more than to take you out and steal your puck, and maybe punch you in the face just because. Sometimes the crowd gets so quiet that you can hear the swish of the skates on the ice. And sometimes the crowd is so loud that you can’t help but get swept away. And get swept away I did.
I love that moment when I first walk in the arena and smell the crispness of the ice. and the contrasts in the ice when the zamboni has half the rink cut. I love watching the agile coordination of players coming on and off the ice (I did figure out why and how they know when to change). I love a good fight, a big hit into the boards that makes the glass ripple, a quirky goal, the tense moments when it's down to the last minute and the game is tied. Now, I hardly miss a Steelheads game. When I do, it’s usually because I’m watching my son play the game that he’s also grown to love.
When it comes to hockey, I have to agree with this comment that I found on this blog… “I love hockey because it's a combination of unparalleled skill, unquestionable toughness, machine-like precision, supermodel-like beauty and grace. If given the choice between oxygen and hockey, I'd make sure my final blue-faced minutes were spent watching the greatest thing known to man.” Yes, I know what team that blogger likes, no I'm not proud to be referencing it, but you have to admit, the quote nails it.
A few years ago I read that women make up a larger percentage of the fan base for hockey than any of the other major U.S sports (football, basketball, baseball). I’m not sure where I read it and an online search turned up nothing but a bunch of other people writing about it. This tells me that I’m not the only person who read it and I didn’t dream it up.
Why do I mention this? I’ve found myself repeating this nugget of information many times over the years, most recently to a couple of strangers over after work beers. After seriously amazing this couple of guys with our hockey knowledge, Monica and I started tossing around the idea of this blog. Actually, during the drinking of the beer we were talking about how someone should blog about the Idaho Steelheads from a fan perspective. It wasn’t until the next morning that inspiration truly struck.
And so, here we are. Well, right now it’s just me so I might as well tell you what’s on my mind.
Those two guys in the bar that night keep popping into my mind. They weren’t that memorable in themselves. What really stuck with me was their shock that the two women knew so much about hockey.
Why is it so astounding?
I blame football.
Why football, you say?
Do I have to have a reason?
Ok, fair enough…It’s quotes like this: “Female fans do love the game, but most started watching football because a cute player caught their eye”.
I admit is a stereotype. It leads to assumptions that woman can’t possibly be “real” fans. It leads people believe women are too busy watching Peyton Manning’s tight end to know what a real tight end is.
Back to hockey. Every woman probably has their own story of why they love hockey. I’d be willing to bet that every story involves going to game. Maybe their dad took them when they were little girls. Maybe it was an ex-boyfriend or a husband. My story involves cheap tickets and my friend Charlie.
The Steelheads came to Boise just about the same time I arrived for college. Even with the close proximity of hockey, and my slightly peeked curiosity about a sport my father and brother knew nothing about, it was still a few years before I would see a game. I grew up in Nevada where our ice “rink” was a 10x20 foot hole in a seedy park that the fire dept. would fill if the ground froze (big “IF”, it’s Nevada remember). The ice usually lasted till about mid-morning at which time it became mush. In my town, baseball was the big sport until you hit 9th grade and then football was life. I had absolutely no knowledge of hockey. Gordie who? So spending my hard earned money on tickets was hard to justify.
I graduated college and landed that fabulous entry level job all recent grads dream about. I was toiling away in oblivion when out of nowhere I get an e-mail announcing employee group night tickets at low price. I jumped, what the heck, it’s something to do. But there was still a problem. I didn’t know the first thing about hockey.
That’s where Charlie comes in. Charlie grew up watching the Avs play when Roy was in goal. He’s my hockey Wikipedia. I called him, he agreed to go. A decision I’m sure he regretted later. The first 5 minutes of that game went something like this:
Me: “Why did they blow the whistle?”
Charlie: “Crosschecking”
Me: “oh, what’s that?
Charlie takes both hands and makes a shoving motion.
30 seconds later…
Me: “Why did they blow the whistle?”
Charlie: “Elbowing”
Me: “Oh. How can you see that? I don't know where to watch.”
1 minute later…
Me: “Why did that guy get to come out of the penalty box, his two minutes aren’t up?”
Charlie: “Because we scored”
Me: “So because we did something good the other team gets him back early? That doesn’t seem fair.”
20 seconds later...
Me: "Why do the players switch out so often? How do they know when to change?"
30 seconds later…
Me: “What was that whistle for?”
Charlie: “Offsides. I’m going to get a beer, this is going to be a long game”
After I shut up long enough to actually watch the game, I noticed a few things. The game is pure excitement and brute physicality, but it is also smooth and graceful. It takes a lot of coordination to guide a rubber puck with a wooden stick at 20 mph on ice while 5 guys with blades on their feet and their own wooden sticks want nothing more than to take you out and steal your puck, and maybe punch you in the face just because. Sometimes the crowd gets so quiet that you can hear the swish of the skates on the ice. And sometimes the crowd is so loud that you can’t help but get swept away. And get swept away I did.
I love that moment when I first walk in the arena and smell the crispness of the ice. and the contrasts in the ice when the zamboni has half the rink cut. I love watching the agile coordination of players coming on and off the ice (I did figure out why and how they know when to change). I love a good fight, a big hit into the boards that makes the glass ripple, a quirky goal, the tense moments when it's down to the last minute and the game is tied. Now, I hardly miss a Steelheads game. When I do, it’s usually because I’m watching my son play the game that he’s also grown to love.
When it comes to hockey, I have to agree with this comment that I found on this blog… “I love hockey because it's a combination of unparalleled skill, unquestionable toughness, machine-like precision, supermodel-like beauty and grace. If given the choice between oxygen and hockey, I'd make sure my final blue-faced minutes were spent watching the greatest thing known to man.” Yes, I know what team that blogger likes, no I'm not proud to be referencing it, but you have to admit, the quote nails it.
Why do you love hockey?
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